Peaches And Bottles

CHAPTER ONE.

There is a beach party at Cheekers Beach, Nigeria, organized by the big boys in the city. Teenagers are having fun on the beach. Some are dancing, some smoking and drinking, some making out, some chatting, some eating, some playing in the water.

They all sing and vibe to the popular song "Wild, young and free" by Snoop Dog ft Wiz Khalifa.

"So what we get drunk? So what we smoke weed? We're just having fun, we don't care who sees...so what we go out, that's how it's supposed to be, living young and wild and free.."

Nathan stands up from the VIP corner, the moment he stood, the crowd started cheering. He picked up the mic and started rapping the song's first verse. "Uh, uhm, so what I keep 'em rolled up

Saggin' my pants, not caring what I show

Keep it real with my niggas

Keep it player for these hoes

It look clean don't it

Washed it the other day, watch how you lean on it

Give me some 501 jeans on it

Roll joints bigger than king Kong's fingers

And smoke them hoes down 'til stingers

You a class clown and if I skip for the day

I'm with your bitch smoking grade A

You know what

It's like I'm seventeen again

Peach fuzz on my face

Lookin', on the case

Tryna find a hella taste

Oh my God, I'm on the chase, Chevy

It's gettin' kinda heavy, relevant, sellin' it

Dippin' away, time keeps slippin' away

Zip in the safe, flippin' for pay

Trippin' like I'm drippin' in paint

Up front, four blunts, like, 'Nathy put the weed in a J'.."

The crowd went wild singing. "So what we get drunk, so what we smoke weed, we're just having fun. We don't care who sees..so what we go out, that's how it's supposed to be.. living young and wild and freeeee..."

Pink is singing and dancing towards Nathan and his friend Jude when Lydia and Ann playfully pull her back.

Pink frowned. "Hey, hey, hey, heyyyy...what?"

"We know what you are up to." Lydia rolled her eyes.

Ann chipped in. "No way! That guy is a proud snob, shoot your shots else where girly."

"What guy are you talking about? I am only trying to have fun." Pink opened a bottle of water drinking.

"I know Nathan, you are not even his type of girl." Lydia scoffed.

Pink rolled her eyes. "What is his type?"

"Thick." Ann said. "He likes thick crazy girls. Girls that are fun to be with."

Pink dropped the bottled water, folding her arms. "By 'fun to be with' you mean being an alcoholic and..."

Lydia didn't let her finish, she interrupted sharply. "Not drinking alcohol doesn't make you a better human and I suggest you give alcohol a chance today."

Pink shaked her head disapprovingly. "There is nothing special about alcohol, I know I am not missing out."

"Do you like him or Nick?" Ann questioned.

"Nick?" Pink asked surprisingly.

Ann nodded. "Yes. Nicholas Johnson, that plays football in school."

Pink smiled, then spoke hesitantly, but honestly. "I've always liked Nick as a friend. You were the one who had the crush on him last year. To me he's always been just a good friend."

"And Nathan?" Ann continued.

"I don't know." Pink bit her lips. "I guess I'd like to have him as a boyfriend, but I don't know for sure how he'll feel about me."

Ann's eyes opened in disbelief. "You just met him today!!"

"No, no, no." Lydia said, crossing her arms in disapproval." Nathan is a snob. Don't set yourself up for rejection."

"Duh.." Pink looked at Nathan quickly, then turned back to face her friends. "Are you a mind reader?"

Pink ignores her friends and dances to meet Nathan.

They both dance erotically, she gives her friends the side eye while sticking her tounge out. Ann and Lydia try to hide the strange jealousy nibbling at their stomach.

"Mind if we take a picture together?" A photographer at asked Ann, from behind.

Ann turned to face him. "Me?"

"Yes, you." The photographer replied. "I'm a photographer and I have a modeling agency."

"Well," Ann looked at Lydia. "Only if she's joining."

The photographer smiled. "Ofcourse, get in the pool then, that's the concept."

Ann and Lydia dived into the water, splashing water on each other excitedly.

***

Past 11pm, and the beach party is over. Some teenagers drive off with their friends in their fancy cars while the rest of the teenagers enter a big bus made available by the party organizers to drop everyone home.

After a long drive back to town, the bus stops at a junction. Pink and Nathan come down from the bus waving good bye to their friends. They walk inside a lonely street while the bus zooms off with it's noisy passengers.

As they walk inside the street, one can hear their laughter echoing down the lonely street.

"Hey," Nathan broke the silence. "Are you okay?"

Pink smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Do I look other wise?"

Nathan smiled. Damn it! He had a very charming smile. "You look drunk."

"No!!! I'm just tipsy." Pink defended.

"What's the difference?" Nathan asked, reaching out to hold her. "Give me your hand."

They both continue to walk holding hands. After a long walk Pink stops in front of a small fashionable house.

"Thank you for walking me home. I appreciate." Pink said, smiling.

Nathan smiled back. "It's no big deal. I made you drink, I had to be sure you are home safe. It's the least I can do. Not that you look scared even though it's past midnight."

"What's the worst that can happen?"

They both laughed heartily, realizing nothing new would happen.

"Hug?" Pink hoped she wouldn't get turned down.

"Sure." Nathan said, hugging Pink. "Good night."

Nathan walks down the road smiling. Pink gently pushes the gate open. She tip toes inside the compound and quietly locks the gate behind her. She turns to walk inside the building only to see her younger brother.

Taking a deep breath, relieved, she said, "Dalvin...why are you standing there looking at me?"

"My darling big sister.." Dalvin laughed. "I am enjoying the fright on your face."

Pink frowned irritatedly. "Yeah! I was worried. I thought you slept off and forgot to leave the gate open for me."

"And what if I did?" Dalvin asked.

"Jump the fence! What else is there to do?"

Dalvin laughed loudly. "Where is my parcel?"

"Shhhh...are you deliberately trying to get me in trouble?" She handed over to him a small bag.

"Yuuppp!" Dalvin smiled, looking inside the bag, he suddenly frowned. "A piece of cake, with a small bottle of Pepsi?"

"A piece of cake at MacDonald's!" Pink snapped. "I spent five thousand naira buying that piece of cake and small bottle of Pepsi. Mitcheeeew, ungrateful soul."

Dalvin came closer to Pink, sniffing her dress to confirm his suspicion. "Yikes! You stink, when did you start drinking alcohol?"

"I'd appreciate it if you mind your business." She said, walking inside the house.

"Mom knows you snuck out, you are in big trouble."

"Whatever! Go and read your books, you will be in bigger trouble if you fail your exams this semester."

***

Kim and Jennifer are quietly enjoying their dinner of fish and chips. Kim is focused on her laptop. Their vacation in France, is so far going great.

Bryan, Andre and Gentle, walk into the restaurant, they sit two tables away from Kim's.

A waiter takes their order and after a while they start eating. Bryan removes his hood. Jennifer notice and recognizes Bryan, as he sings into the salt shaker and kick his legs under the table in one of his weird little dances.

"Kim." Jennifer tapped Kim. "Kim!"

Kim didn't look up, she was still focused on her MacBook. "Are you done? Please give me a minute, I am not done with my meal."

Jennifer frowned. "Who cares? Kim look over there...Bryan. Bryan is here."

"Who is Bryan?"

"Our Afropop celebrity singer, BRYAN. The lover of every beautiful girl on Earth."

Kim looked up, stretching her eyes to see Bryan. "Oh, so he now wears a purple wig? Great!"

"We both know he doesn't wear wigs. That is his hair from brith, he only styles it with different colors." She frowned. "I prefer the blue dye his stylist used on him in his last music video." She paused then continued, "Kim, today is our lucky day."

"Your lucky day, not mine."

"Listen, you are going to help me. I am going to Bryan's table right now to say hello, take pictures and get an autograph. Please do the needful."

"Please don't include me in this charade, I beg you." Kim straightened. "Please."

"It's not like you won't make money from it." She said, then walked to Bryan's table.

"Jennifer, Jenny..." Kim called out. "Don't.." She stopped when she saw Jennifer was already at their table.

"Bryan, hi." She smiled.

Bryan looked up. "Hi."

"My name is Jennifer, I'm from the mother land and I am a big fan of your music."

"The pleasure is mine Jennifer." Bryan said.

Bryan and Kim occasionally glanced at each other. Bryan knew the lady in front of him came from that table, so he wondered why her friend didn't come with her. Does she not know who he is?

"Can I please take a picture with you?" Jennifer requested.

"I'm sorry...the timing is..." Bryan paused, trying to organize the right words so she wouldn't misinterpret.

"It's fine. I get it. You are not in the mood. Can I get an autograph at least?" Jennifer put a hopeful smile.

"Where should I sign?" In as much as he didn't want to, he knew he had to, she didn't look like one to give up easily.

Jennifer opens the first few buttons of her blouse, Bryan and his friends stare at her in disbelief. "Here, please sign."

Bryan pretended not to see. "Ummm, where?"

"On my boobs."

"Boobs?!" Andre and Gentle said in unison.

Kim wildly smile watching Bryan sign on Jennifer's boobs while she captures every moment on video.

Bryan stretch his hands to give Jennifer what looked like a card. "This is the V.I.P ticket to my concert in the mother land. You are invited."

"Oh my God!!!" Jennifer screamed, hugging Bryan. "Thank you so much Bryan, I love you."

Bryan smiled. "Shwaty, I love you more." He winked, locking eyes with her.

This was really Jennifer's day, Bryan was flirting with her! "I tried to buy the V.I.P ticket but they said everything has been sold out. Thank you very much, this means a lot to me." She said sincerely.

"You are welcome. Can I please have a little privacy now if you don't mind?" Bryan's voice had a tiny plea.

"Of course. Please enjoy your dinner. Nice to have met you." Jennifer said, then walked to Kim's table buttoning her blouse.

Andre was the first to complain. "She didn't even have the courtesy to recognize and acknowledge our presence."

"Are you a celebrity?" Gentle responded. "You should be used to this treatment by now."

The trio laugh.

Andre continued, "Mehn...I love her boobs, so fresh and tempting."

"I wonder what they are doing here. I made a reservation for the entire restaurant so I can have a peaceful private dinner." Bryan said.

"The one with a darker skin is just there feeling proud, instead of her to come here and get an autograph." Andre pointed out.

"With free a V.I.P ticket.." Gentle added.

Kim closed her MacBook.

"Please let's stay a little longer. Who knows? He might give me his personal card after dinner." Jennifer pleaded.

Kim shaked her head in disagreement. "They made a reservation for the entire restaurant and their reservation started thirty minutes ago."

"Wait, they? Who is they? Bryan?"

"Yes."

"And you are just telling me now, what kind of a friend are you? Wait, are you even my friend? My celebrity crush made a reservation in your restaurant and you didn't tell me so I'd at least wear something sexy and make up?"

"I did not know. My manager just called, and besides it is a reservation for the entire restaurant for tonight, are we suppose to be here?"

"Leave me alone." Jennifer angrily walked out of the restaurant while Kim scurried after her with their hand bags.